Chalabi a Corrupt Ally

CHALABI A CORRUPT ALLY -- (House of Representatives - May 20, 2004)

(Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, this morning we learned U.S. military personnel and Iraqi police raided the home and party headquarters of Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmed Chalabi.

I am not surprised. Chalabi's past is riddled with allegations and convictions for fraud and corruption. That he may now be under investigation in Iraq for corruption or other crimes is hardly unexpected. Chalabi has always been a favorite at the Pentagon, even though the State Department sees him as divisive and untrustworthy.

Under the Iraqi Liberation Act, the Pentagon has fed him a steady stream of money in return for information. It was Chalabi who was the principal source for the false intelligence about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. When Saddam fell and the U.S. flew Chalabi and his cronies to Iraq to take up positions of power, it was he who championed the plan to rid Iraq of all Baath Party influence, including civil servants, a policy that angered many an Iraqi and deprived the coalition of experienced workers.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to distance ourselves from this man once and for all. Cut off his money. The taxpayers deserve a refund.

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